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[1-News-Head]

[TALENT=Keith]

Write- in candidate Andy Nicely is back on voter Vinton rolls ...for now anyway.

We'll explain how that happened on election eve.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

And scores of protesters arise at three A-M in Bland County to attend the opening day of power line hearings in Richmond.
(------------)

[Sports-Head]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Tonight on News 7 sports, the city of champions braces for another Spring Jubilee.
We'll hear from Tech tailback Lee Suggs.
Show how Salem Stadium's turf was torn to pieces.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And Roanoke College's Kari Whitney is named the ODAC's softball player of the year.
(------------)
[WX-Head]
[TALENT=Robin]
[SS=None]
Expect batch of rain showers overnight. There may even be a rumble of thunder as a cold front slides through.

Details coming up.[Video-Open]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=Video Open]

(/////SOT/////)
[SOT @ 13:38:10]
[IN Q=Ah, being a write-in]
((BEING A WRITE-IN CANDIDATE DOES HAVE IT'S CHALLENGES.))
[RUNS=:02]
[OUT Q=its challenges.]
(------------)
[V/O-NAT]
Normally that does not include having to fight for the right to vote. But for now Andy Nicely's name is back on Vinton's voter rolls... if not on the ballot for Mayor.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]
Good evening, I'm Keith Humphry.

[Nicely]

The question of whether Nicely was properly registered to vote in Vinton ...or whether he belongs in Roanoke... was NOT settled today.
But the write-in candidate for Mayor got what he was after in court.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=He emerged from]
[SUPER=203-Salem; :00]
[SUPER=201-Paul Mahoney/Roanoke Co. Attorney; :24]
[SUPER=201-Andy Nicely/Write-in Candidate; :46]
[SUPER=201-Diane St. John/Roanoke Co. Registrar; 1:18]
[RUNS=1:22]
[OUT Q=will pursue this.]
(( He emerged from the county courthouse with his Vinton voter registration restored.
The County Registrar came armed with an aerial photograph that she says shows Nicely's home is in Roanoke.
But Circuit Judge Diane Strickland never got that far. She decided that the registrar failed to give Nicely "timely notice" that his registration was being transferred to Roanoke.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Judge Strickland was]
((JUDGE STRICKLAND WAS FOCUSING ON A NARROW PROCEDURAL ANALYSIS OF THE ISSUE THAT WAS BROUGHT THIS MORNING, SO THAT WE, THE REGISTRAR AND I, WERE NOT ABLE TO GET TO THE FACTUAL BASIS OF WHERE MR. NICELY'S PLACE OF ABODE IS, WHERE HE LIVES.))
[RUNS17]
[OUT Q=where he lives.]

So for now Nicely has won the right to write his own name on the ballot as a candidate for Mayor.
[SOT @ 13:37:40]
[IN Q=I'm very appreciative]
((I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE DECISION THAT THE COURT MADE TODAY IN MY FAVOR, AND I BELIEVE THAT THE MY RIGHTS TO VOTE HAVE BEEN RESTORED, BASED ON THE JUDGE'S DECISION. AND WE WILL VOTE TOMORROW IN THE MAY 2ND ELECTION.))
[RUNS12]
[OUT Q=may 2nd election.]

But he has not heard the end of this.
Nicely owns property in Vinton, his children attend school in Vinton. But the driveway leads to a house that Registrar Diane St. John says is entirely within Roanoke City limits.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:47:40]
[IN Q=So even though]
((so even though he gets to vote tomorrow- -on May second in Vinton- -that may not be the end of the story. NO THAT'S NOT THE END OF THE STORY. WE WILL PURSUE THIS.))
[RUNS10]
[OUT Q=will pursue this.]))

[Arcadia-Leadership]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#99-59 TC1:52:27]
[GRAPHIC=None]
For the second time in two years, state inspectors say a Botetourt County school is not safe for kids.
[Double Boxes=Keith and Tina/Newsroom]
Tina Tenret has the latest on the Arcadia Leadership Academy.
[Live=Tina Full/Newsroom]
[SUPER=@Tina1;]
Keith, the Academy lost its license today because the Department of Social Services found almost 24 pages worth of violations.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=They say]
[SUPER=03-Buchanan; :00]
[RUNS=:29]
[OUT Q=new education center]
(( They say at this boarding school for young men, a staff member hit a student -- he was later fired.
Sheriff's deputies charged a student in March with making bomblike devices and planting them on grounds.
State inspectors say the bunkhouse is a dangerous mess -- they say staff paychecks bounce -- and there's no record that students get their medicine.
School leaders say they've hired a medical person and redecorated the bunkhouse--
They're just now wrapping up construction of a new education center.))
(-------------)
[Live=Tina Full/Newsroom]
Keith, when we visited the school today administrators were cooperative but no one could tell us who was in charge.
They say all 15 students will be picked up this week.
[Double Boxes=Keith and Tina/Newsroom]
They plan to appeal this ruling but they predict most of the counselors will quit today.
(Keith question: Tina you say this is the second time the state has forced the Academy to close?)
That's right Keith, the Department of Education said the place was unsafe and unsanitary a year and a half ago -- but the school won its appeal -- so we'll be following up to see if they win again this time.

[Amherst-Murders]

Two people are dead, another in custody after an argument over a cellphone this afternoon in Amherst County.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Amherst Co.]

It happened shortly after three o'clock on Wright Shop Road in Madison Heights.
Authorities are still piecing together the story, but witnesses say the gunman shot a brother and sister before fleeing the scene.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:18:00]
[IN Q=There was some]
((JIMMY AYERS/AMHERST CO. SHERIFF: THERE WAS SOME TYPE OF ALTERCATION OR ARGUMENT THAT TOOK PLACE OVER A CELL TELEPHONE. GUNSHOTS APPARENTLY WERE DISCHARGED.. WE KNOW FROM THE SUSPECT THERE'S EVIDENCE THAT ONE OF THE VICTIMS IF NOT BOTH ALSO POSSIBLY HAD A WEAPON.))
[SUPER=01-Jimmy Ayers/Amherst Co. Sheriff]
[RUNS=20]
[OUT Q=had a weapon.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The victims have been identified as 17- year- old Brian Thomas and his 21- year- old sister Stephanie.
They were pronounced dead at the scene.
A state trooper arrested 26- year- old Carlos Tabb about a half hour later on Route 460 in Concord.
(------------)

[Henry-Murder]

Henry County authorities are trying to piece together a brutal murder that happened last night.
They want to know why a North Carolina woman allegedly came to Henry County to kill her stepfather.
Surae Chinn has the details.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Authorities say 44]
[SUPER=01-Lt. Jim Minter/Martinsville Police Dept.; :08]
[SUPER=@Surae1; :25]
[SUPER=01-Capt. Kimmy Nester/Henry Co. Sheriff's Dept.; :45]
[SUPER=01-Byron Smith/Victim's Neighbor; :1:09]
[RUNS=1:41]
[OUT Q=News 7, Henry County]
(( Authorities say 44 year old Vicki Emter Gammon rampaged along the streets of Martinsville..hitting anything in her path.
[SOT 15:26:29]
((JIM MINTER/MARTINSVILLE POLICE LT.:THE VERY FIRST VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY THE ACCUSED VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON COMMONWEALTH BOULEVARD RIGHT HERE AT THE LIGHT COMING UP AT THE HILL NEAR RYAN'S RESTAURANT...IT KEPT ESCALATING FROM THERE AND ONE OR TWO MORE WERE STRUCK HERE.))
[RUNS:15]
[SOT 15:33:23]
((SURAE CHINN/REPORTING: SHE WOULD GO ONTO HIT MORE CARS ABOUT 6 OF THEM AND A PEDESTRIAN. AUTHORITIES SOON DISCOVERED AFTER QUESTIONING THE DRIVER THAT THEY HAD A SUSPECT IN A HENRY COUNTY MURDER CASE.))
[RUNS:10]
Investigators were led to a home on Ferndale Court and found the suspect's father in law with multiple knife wounds.
[SOT 15:22:55]
((HOW MANY TIMES WAS HE STABBED? KIMMY NESTER/HENRY CO. CAPTAIN: WE CAN'T SAY. IT WAS A BRUTAL MURDER REPEATED MANY TIMES. WE'LL KNOW MORE TOMORROW.))
[RUNS:07]
Henry county authorities don't know why Gammon allegedly murdered her own stepfather but they are looking closely at her mental state.
Neighbors like Byron Smith, who lives across from where the murder happened are in disbelief.
[SOT 15:33:55]
((BYRON SMITH/VICTIM'S NEIGHBOR: I'M KIND OF SHOCKED. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY ABOUT IT. DON'T KNOW ANYTHING. I FEEL BAD FOR ELAINE..THE WIFE.))
[RUNS:10]
Authorities say when she got to jail, Gammon hit a corrections officer. Now she's charged with assaulting a police officer and murder in Henry County. As for the city--she's charged with attempted murder for hitting the pedestrian and a slew of other hit and run charges. Surae Chinn News 7, Henry County.))
(--------------------)

Teresa Gore is one of scores of protesters who got up at three A-M to travel from Bland County to Richmond.
They sat in on the first day of two weeks worth of scheduled testimony in front of the State Corporation Commission.
A-E-P got a boost this spring when the S-C-C staff agreed there's a need for a new line -- without picking which route would be best.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Staff has]
[sot 15:15:48]
((DAVE MUHLY/POWER LINE OPPONENT: STAFF HAS THE EAR OF AEP. THEY READ THE SAME BOOKS, TALK TO THE SAME FOLKS AND I'M NOT SURPRISED THEY COME TO VERY SIMILAR CONCLUSIONS.))
[sot 15:36 ]
((MICHAEL QUINAN/AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER: BOTH THE STUDY TEAM AND THE COMPANY HAVE BEEN COMMITTED FROM DAY ONE TO DOING THE RIGHT THING, DOING A GOOD JOB... LEAST POSSIBLE IMPACT ON PEOPLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT.))
[SUPER=01-Dave Muhly/Power Line Opponent; :00]
[SUPER=01-Michael Quinan/American Electric Power; :12]
[RUNS=:23]
[OUT Q=the environment.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

S-C-C Judge Howard Anderson will hear evidence tomorrow on the need for the line.
(------------)

[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=NONE]

Governor Gilmore urges co-operation and compromise over boycott.
The latest on a possible tourism boycott next on News 7 at Six.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]

And it may be the news that hundreds are waiting to hear.
More on what could be a big announcement from Intermet later in the newscast.
(----------------)

[Tourism]

It is now a dance of rhetoric between the Governor and the state's most visible civil rights group.
Will the N-double-A-C-P boycott Virginia over Confederate History Month?
[Double Boxes=Keith and ellen/State Microwave]

Keith, it was timely for reporters today... the Governor keynoting his annual Tourism Conference, a week before he's to meet with the N-double-A-C-P over a potential boycott.
Governor Gilmore spoke clearly to them today.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=To proceed]
[SUPER=@Gilmore; :00]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :24]
[SUPER=01-Julian Bond/NAACP National Chairman; :33]
[SUPER=01-Betty Parham/Holiday Inn Housekeeper; 1:07 ]
[SUPER=01-Gail Morgan Vail/Virginia Tourism Corporation; 1:20 ]
[RUNS=1:26]
[OUT Q=May 10th.]
(([sot 09:30:47]
((GOV. JIM GILMORE: TO PROCEED, WE HAVE TO BE WILLING TO MEET EACH OTHER HALFWAY. WE MUST LEARN TO LOOK AT OURSELVES...AS VIRGINIANS... PEOPLE ACCEPTING OF THE PAST, TOLERANT OF DIVERSITY, AND GUIDED BY AN UNBRIDLED DETERMINATION TO BE A BEACON OF HOPE AND OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE.))
[runs:23]
Just as the Governor delivered his tourism message... the N-double-A-C-P's national chairman spoke across town, and commented about Confederate proclamations.
[sot 10:35:49]
((JULIAN BOND/NAACP NATIONAL CHAIRMAN: WELL THEY JUST SEEM TO BE INSULTING TO THE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA WHO'VE GOT TO BE OFFENDED...WHERE'S THE CELEBRATION IN THAT?))
[runs:25]
Betty Parham's a Holiday Inn housekeeper in Petersburg -- honored by the state for her interactions with the public -- who would oppose a boycott... because it could cost her a job.
[SOT 10:41:50]
((BETTY PARHAM/HOLIDAY INN HOUSEKEEPER: WHO'S GONNA...THEY WANNA GET IT PAID.))
[RUN:12]
[SOT 10:39:53]
((GAIL MORGAN VAIL/VIRGINIA TOURISM CORPORATION: I DON'T THINK THERE WILL BE AN NAACP BOYCOTT... HEARD MAY 10TH.))
[RUNS:07]))
(-------------)
[Live=Ellen Full/State Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Richmond;]

The N-double-A-C-P's national chairman would be one of the board members who'd have to sign off on the Virginia chapter's proposed boycott.
Julian Bond says he's hopeful the May 10th meeting with the Governor will avert that.
[Double Boxes=Keith and Ellen/State Microwave]

[M'ville-Murder]

A North Carolina man will go to trial if authorities find him.
A grand jury indicted 38 year old Jose Luis Rendon for the aggravated malicious wounding of his daughter.
He is also charged with murdering 28 year old Jose Francisco Jimenez over Easter weekend in Martinsville.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Martinsville authorities need your help in locating this man-- 24 year old David Tashawn Martin.
[SUPER=03-Martinsville/April 23]

He's accused of fatally shooting a man on Easter Sunday. Martin is about 6 feet tall and weighs 165 pounds. He has a tear drop tattoo under his left eye.
(------------)

[New-River-Castings]

Radford officials are optimistic that after tomorrow New River Castings MAY be on the road to rebuilding.
That's when Intermet's Chief Executive Officer is expected to make an announcement regarding the company's future.

Intermet officials will NOT say what it is.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford/March;]

The plant was destroyed in a March 5th gas explosion that killed three workers.
About 500 people lost their jobs.
Next week, Intermet will resume operations in one section of the plant.
The company's already applied for state permits that would pave the way to re-opening.
(------------)

[Meningitis]

A Virginia Tech junior is the fourth college student in the New River Valley to contract a meningitis-like illness.
Meningococcemia is an infection of the bloodstream, not a central nervous system infection like meningitis.
The 20 year old was treated and released from the hospital.
Three cases of meningitis were reported a couple of weeks ago at Radford.

[Sports Tease]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Coming up tonight on News 7 sports, Roanoke College sweeps ODAC softball honors.
The spring jubilee will force some area athletes to put off their senior beach trips.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And Lee Suggs hopes his impressive showing this spring - translates into a starter's role in the fall.
(------------)

[S-Mayfield]

Still no word from NASCAR tonight concerning what type penalties Jeremy Mayfield and his race team will face for cheating at Talladega last month.
NASCAR has confirmed something was wrong with the Mobil One Ford's fuel.
Mayfield won yesterday at California, but also got in trouble there when the car failed its postrace inspection.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem/This Season; :00]
On the diamond back closer to home, Roanoke College swept the ODAC away this year and tonight the team sweeps the top postseason honors in the league.
Senior third baseman Kari Whitney, who hit a league best 508 this year was named player of the year.
Her coach Alan Bayse is coach of the year in the ODAC. His team is currently 36-and-3 and on its way to a second NCAA appearance.
(------------)

[S-Jubilee]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-67 1326TC]
[GRAPHIC=VHSL]
Next month the Virginia High School League will once again set up shop in Salem for the third annual Spring Jubilee.
11 different state champions will be crowned in a two day period throughout the valley as the Group Two A and Group A spring sports' seasons come to a close.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem/Last Year; :00]
The only problem is that for many of the athletes on our end of the state, the school year will have already ended.
Because of the way graduation falls this year, most schools in southwest Virginia will finish up exams a week before the state championships are even decided.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I TELL YOU...]
[SUPER=01-Jane Layman/Wm. Byrd Athletic Director; :00]
[SUPER=01-Sandy Hadaway/Spring Jubilee Coordinator; :13]
[SUPER=01-Claudia Dodson/VHSL Assistant Director; :26]
[RUNS=:32]
[OUT Q=...compromise."]
(------------)
[VO-NAT con't]
[SUPER=03-Salem/This Afternoon;]
The Spring Jubilee 2000 committee members and volunteers gathered today in Salem to talk about this year's jam packed event is scheduled for Friday and Saturday - June 9th and 10th.
All of the activities will be held in the Roanoke Valley with the exception of some tennis that will be played at both Va Tech and Radford University.
(------------)

[S-Tech]

The Virginia Tech football program is on summer break after this past Saturday's annual spring Maroon-White Game at Lane Stadium Worsham Field.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :00]

Over 21 thousand fans witnessed a fine performance turned in by former William Fleming standout Lee Suggs. The red shirt sophomore led all rushers in the spring game with over 70 yards on 12 carries. Suggs says his biggest strides are mental ones.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="i'm]
[SUPER=01- Lee Suggs/Top Rusher in Spring Game; :00]
((LEE SUGGS/TOP RUSHER IN SPRING GAME:I'M A WHOLE LOT SMARTER. MY KNOWLEDGE OF THE GAME IS A WHOLE LOT MORE, I KNOW THE GAME A LOT MORE. I'M CONFIDENT RUNNING BEHIND MY O-LINE, I'M TRUSTING THEM MORE AND JUST FOLLOWING UP.))
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=follow up"]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

With former E.C. Glass star Andre Kendrick out of the line up to focus on academics, Suggs has tried to take advantage of being the number one back. His efforts have not gone unnoticed.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="I]
((FRANK BEAMER/VIRGINIA TECH HEAD COACH:I THINK HE'S A GOOD, GOOD, BACK, HE'S GONNA WORK WITH COACH GENTRY THIS SUMMER AND TRY AND PUT ON A FEW MORE POUNDS THIS SUMMER AND SUGGS IS PLENTY GOOD FOR US TO WIN WITH HIM.))
((MICHAEL VICK/VIRGINIA TECH QUARTERBACK:HE'S HAD A REAL GOOD SPRING, HE'S BEEN RUNNING THE BALL WELL THIS SPRING AND I THINK THE COACHES ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT HIM AND I AM TOO.))
[SUPER=01-Frank Beamer/Virginia Tech Head Coach; :00]
[SUPER=01-Michael Vick/Virginia Tech Quarterback; :12]
[RUNS=:19]
[OUT Q=...i am too"]
(------------)
Suggs will take a break from football but not the weights, where he hopes to beef up during the off season.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="I'm staying]
((I'M STAYING DOWN HERE THE WHOLE SUMMER, TRYING TO PUT ON 10 TO 15 MORE POUNDS SO I CAN TAKE THE BEATING DURING THE SEASON, I SHOULD BE OK, IF I CAN KEEP MY SPEED UP.))
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=....speed up"]
(---------------)

[S-Salem]

Friday Football Extra's team of the year last season, the Salem Spartans were unstoppable on the girdiron, and now their home field is about to get an upgrade.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :00]
Yours eyes aren'tplaying tricks on you - this is what Salem Stadium looks like these days.
Stadium manager Scott Sampson and his crew have stripped the 16 year old field of every bit of its grass.
The underlying soil has been graded and the crown in the middle of the field has been enhanced.
Soon, all new bluegrass sod will placed on the surface. The thousands of feet of grass is coming from a sod farm in Ironto.
(------------)

[WX-Almanac]

April ended up being both cooler than normal and rainier than normal.
Patrick Evans tells us what a normal May feels like in this month's Almanac.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Welcome to ]
[RUNS=1:01]
[OUT Q=Patrick Evans, News 7.]
[***MUSIC CONTINUES***]